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35 lethal crude bombs seized

Thiruvananthapuram: The police on Friday raided the den of a criminal gang at Puthenpalam Bund colony near Kannanmoola and seized 35 locally assembled, but lethal, bombs filled with metal projectiles and steel balls.

They also seized six swords, three short-handled axes, one .22 air rifle and three vehicles suspected to be used for criminal purposes.

The police said some of the weapons and bombs were found in the house occupied by alleged gang leader “Kannanmoola” Rajesh.

They also seized Rs.2.59 lakh and contraband liquor from the house. The police had increased surveillance of the colony following a fight between Puthenpalam and Barton Hill colony gangs during Onam. Jeevan,, an associate of alleged gang leader “Goondukadu” Shabu, was injured in the violence.

The police have named Rajesh, his associates Dini Babu, Pushpangadhan and Thankan as accused in the case. The police conducted the raid in the presence of Revenue department authorities.

They said Rajesh profited immensely, often earning up to Rs.60,000 daily, from selling earth to contractors responsible for reclaiming the wetlands at Chakka for building the new airport terminal.

He sold earth removed from the ecologically important Karuvalikunnu hillock near Mulavana junction for Rs.1,000 per truck-load. The police said he gained Rs.900 as profit for every load.

Tipper trucks removed at least 60 loads of earth from the three-acre hillock every day. The police said a real estate developer had recently bought the hillock for building luxury villas and entrusted the gang to raze it.

They said the gang threatened local people who attempted to protect the hillock from wanton destruction. The police said they were investigating the builder’s alleged links with the gang.

Nearly 180 families live in the colony, many in fear of the 60-member gang. Commissioner of Police Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar led the raid.

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